Supreme Court to hear arguments on same-sex marriage

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 9:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 10:36 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday and Wednesday in two cases expected to spur landmark decisions in the divisive issue of same-sex marriage.

On Tuesday, the nation's top justices will take up the voter-approved same-sex marriage ban in California, and on Wednesday they're slated to focus on a federal law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman.

The historic rulings, expected by June, will determine whether two men or two women are entitled to the same kind of legal marriage that heterosexual couples can enter into, complete with dozens of legal and financial benefits.

"Love all of God's children equally. End of story," said Joanna McKenney, an Ormond Beach resident and Volusia County teacher who is heterosexual and has two gay relatives.

For the Rev. Mark Howell, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, it comes down to what he reads in the Bible.

"God has defined marriage for us. It's between a man and a woman," Howell said. "His word is clear."

Jim Camp, who was with his partner for about three decades before he died, says the issue is legal, not spiritual.

"I can't see in this country and in this age we should ever be discriminating against people," said Camp, owner of The Villa Bed and Breakfast on Peninsula Drive in Daytona Beach. "I think the Supreme Court will recognize everyone has equal rights under the law. I'm hoping the Supreme Court makes a decision and doesn't pass it on to every state."

The Rev. Chris Hoffmann, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Port Orange, hopes individual states can make decisions on same-sex marriage.

"I think it'll just divide our country if they say it's the law of the land," Hoffmann said. "It'll harden hearts."

While the debate has waged on, people such as Bob Baxter and his partner of 35 years have watched the calendar turn on one year after another that they can't get married. At 68, the retired Edgewater man said at this point he's mainly interested in he and his partner being able to tap into the same legal and financial benefits as heterosexual couples.

Not being married is "just something you live with," Baxter said.

While Baxter is part of a generation of homosexuals that didn't have its hopes up for same-sex marriage, gay men and women a few decades younger see a tide turning in their favor.

A recent Washington Post/ABC news poll found 58 percent of Americans believe gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry. Nine years ago, support for gay marriage was just 32 percent, and three years ago it had risen to 47 percent, polls have reported.

Gay marriage has been approved in nine states — Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington — and the District of Columbia. But same-sex couples in those states aren't entitled to any federal benefits.

A tug of war continues, though, with 31 states — including Florida — amending their constitutions to prohibit same-sex marriage.

Now the nation is watching to see if the Supreme Court judges will settle the matter. Some observers expect the 17-year-old federal Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage only between men and women to be abolished since four federal district courts and two appeals courts have struck down the provision.

If the same-sex marriage ban in California decided in 2008 by Proposition 8 is struck down, it could open the floodgates to other states legalizing marriage between homosexuals. Some worry upholding it could shut the door on gay marriage rights for years, leaving the matter up to individual states. A third possibility is a ruling that mainly impacts California.

Some have questioned whether judges should be arguing California's Proposition 8 that barred same-sex marriages in that state by voter rule.

"Why don't you accept the will of the people (in California) versus the nine justices who will decide it?" asked Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley. "That to me says it all."

Kelley said he sees marriage as something between men and women who can have children together. But he adds that he doesn't want to impose his views on anyone else, and he doesn't want anyone to impose their views on him.

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday and Wednesday in two cases expected to spur landmark decisions in the divisive issue of same-sex marriage. </p><p>On Tuesday, the nation's top justices will take up the voter-approved same-sex marriage ban in California, and on Wednesday they're slated to focus on a federal law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. </p><p>The historic rulings, expected by June, will determine whether two men or two women are entitled to the same kind of legal marriage that heterosexual couples can enter into, complete with dozens of legal and financial benefits. </p><p>"Love all of God's children equally. End of story," said Joanna McKenney, an Ormond Beach resident and Volusia County teacher who is heterosexual and has two gay relatives. </p><p>For the Rev. Mark Howell, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, it comes down to what he reads in the Bible. </p><p>"God has defined marriage for us. It's between a man and a woman," Howell said. "His word is clear." </p><p>Jim Camp, who was with his partner for about three decades before he died, says the issue is legal, not spiritual. </p><p>"I can't see in this country and in this age we should ever be discriminating against people," said Camp, owner of The Villa Bed and Breakfast on Peninsula Drive in Daytona Beach. "I think the Supreme Court will recognize everyone has equal rights under the law. I'm hoping the Supreme Court makes a decision and doesn't pass it on to every state." </p><p>The Rev. Chris Hoffmann, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Port Orange, hopes individual states can make decisions on same-sex marriage. </p><p>"I think it'll just divide our country if they say it's the law of the land," Hoffmann said. "It'll harden hearts." </p><p>While the debate has waged on, people such as Bob Baxter and his partner of 35 years have watched the calendar turn on one year after another that they can't get married. At 68, the retired Edgewater man said at this point he's mainly interested in he and his partner being able to tap into the same legal and financial benefits as heterosexual couples. </p><p>Not being married is "just something you live with," Baxter said. </p><p>While Baxter is part of a generation of homosexuals that didn't have its hopes up for same-sex marriage, gay men and women a few decades younger see a tide turning in their favor. </p><p>A recent Washington Post/ABC news poll found 58 percent of Americans believe gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry. Nine years ago, support for gay marriage was just 32 percent, and three years ago it had risen to 47 percent, polls have reported. </p><p>Gay marriage has been approved in nine states &mdash; Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington &mdash; and the District of Columbia. But same-sex couples in those states aren't entitled to any federal benefits. </p><p>A tug of war continues, though, with 31 states &mdash; including Florida &mdash; amending their constitutions to prohibit same-sex marriage. </p><p>Now the nation is watching to see if the Supreme Court judges will settle the matter. Some observers expect the 17-year-old federal Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage only between men and women to be abolished since four federal district courts and two appeals courts have struck down the provision. </p><p>If the same-sex marriage ban in California decided in 2008 by Proposition 8 is struck down, it could open the floodgates to other states legalizing marriage between homosexuals. Some worry upholding it could shut the door on gay marriage rights for years, leaving the matter up to individual states. A third possibility is a ruling that mainly impacts California. </p><p>Some have questioned whether judges should be arguing California's Proposition 8 that barred same-sex marriages in that state by voter rule. </p><p>"Why don't you accept the will of the people (in California) versus the nine justices who will decide it?" asked Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley. "That to me says it all." </p><p>Kelley said he sees marriage as something between men and women who can have children together. But he adds that he doesn't want to impose his views on anyone else, and he doesn't want anyone to impose their views on him.</p>